Credit: Christopher Evans

Credit: Christopher Evans

Credit: Christopher Evans

Faith hadn’t been out of the Intensive Care Unit very long when an unexpected visitor came to her room on the 9th floor of Boston Children’s Hospital this past Tuesday night.

Sitting up in bed, the adorable 5-year-old’s eyes brightened, then her smile positively lit up the room when Zoltan Mesko walked in with his girlfriend, Haley Higgins. Given it was the day before Halloween, Mesko came armed with an “Angry Bird” head, which he wore, while Higgins also arrived in costume.

As good as Mesko has been as the Patriots punter — he’s currently third best in the NFL at knocking punts inside the 20 — he’s been even better at donating his time to make a difference in people’s lives. On this particular night, Mesko weaved his magic with young Faith, who couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“That smile was all worth it. Thank you,” whispered Faith’s mom, Mary Rose, as Mesko walked out of the room and headed for another down the hall.

Smiles are rare for kids battling illness. Mary Rose teared up when Mesko left. She had no idea a Patriots player would be coming on this particular night. She’s a huge Pats fan and watches the games with her daughter. With Faith in the ICU, she had missed Sunday’s game against the Rams.

All she knew Tuesday night was that her daughter had been in the hospital nearly a week and needed a boost. In truth, both of them needed one. And it came in the form of the smiling, cheery, 6-foot-4, Romanian-born Mesko.

“This was so priceless,” Mary Rose said. “What a surprise. He’s really sweet. It was so nice considering he was just off the plane (from London). I can’t tell you how much it means for him to do this.”

A day in the life

If you followed Mesko around to the 16-or-so rooms he visited, you heard pretty much the same story from the mothers and fathers of the kids. It didn’t matter if the patient, parent or sibling knew the Patriots punter, or not. They were touched by having him brighten their loved one’s day.

Mesko played cars with two-year-old Kaylob, talked bowling and ZZ Top with 14-year-old Thomas, wore a tutu on his head made by 15-year-old Heather, and did his best British voice for 4-year-old Colin.

“It means a lot to my kid and to me. It’s an honor and privilege,” said Bob, whose 9-year-old son Jonathan was given three autographed footballs from Mesko to share with his two brothers. “I was just asking (the nurses) if athletes come by. It’s great to see.”

The Patriots have organized days in which players make visits to hospitals all over New England. And Mesko is certainly front and center on those days. But this was on the side, something he organized on his own. Mesko has been known to call up out of the blue to inform the staff at Children’s that he’s coming. Tuesday night was one of his impromptu visits and the powers that be had him on the neuro-science floor where kids were being treated for diabetes and cystic fibrosis, among other illnesses.

Higgins tagged along for the first time, and was so glad she finally got to see her boyfriend in action where it really counts.

“It was just so nice to see the kids’ faces light up and see how they react to him,” said Higgins, who was dressed like a butterfly. “It’s incredible what these kids are going through. (We) just had that flight (back from London). They’re all hooked up to tubes, in pain, uncomfortable. It really puts that flight into perspective. It’s not that hard. We should be here, giving back.”

Prime-time player

Mesko’s generosity doesn’t stop here. He seems to be everywhere. Name a Patriots charitable event, Mesko is present. Name an event put on by a teammate, Mesko is there. Name an event put on by a former Patriot, Mesko is front and center. Name a place a teammate doesn’t show, Mesko comes in his place.

There are players who go above and beyond when it comes to donating time. And then, there is Mesko.

“Ever since his rookie year, he’s just embraced the Kraft family’s commitment to giving back to the community,” said Donna Spigarolo, community relations manager for the Patriots. “Zoltan inevitably comes up every week and asks what we’ve got going on. I think you can probably track, every single week, without fail, he was at whatever the event was. And that grew into his relationship with Children’s Hospital.”

Why is it so important to him? Why did Mesko show up on his bye week, a day after a crazy and harrowing flight back from London in which the plane battled through Hurricane Sandy?

“I can’t really point out a specific reason. I can only point to an experience,” Mesko told the Herald recently. “I feel like when I go to the hospital, especially, when I make that difference in a kid’s life, I really can’t see past the smoke ... or, I do see past the smoke and mirrors of being a professional athlete. I don’t view my teammates as celebrities, or myself especially, but kids do. It’s crazy how much their faces can light up. So I feel like if I can use that, something I really don’t believe in, that they believe in, to brighten their day up, that makes me feel better about visiting them, and also about myself.”

Mesko said he wasn’t necessarily taught the lesson or had it passed down to him. It’s just something that came about naturally.

“Athletes have always had that mesmerizing effect on me as a kid. I always looked up to them. When you get an adrenaline rush, it’s not something you can produce via anything like a medicine,” he said. “I feel like I’m giving that to kids, and making them smile, and being my goofy self. If they put a face to the athlete, most of them don’t care that I’m the punter. Or that I play for the Patriots. I’m using a bigger brand to facilitate my help.”

It all comes naturally

Kids latch onto Mesko’s easy-going manner. It’s hard not to like him. Last month, he sat in a classroom along with Devin McCourty and chatted with some students at a North Attleboro middle school about reading. Before long, they were talking favorite books, movies, cooking. You name it.

“I think his perspective on life as a young man is way ahead of where he is age-wise,” said teammate Matthew Slater. “He’s got an older soul, an older spirit to him. He understands what’s important in this life and what things are maybe not as important which I think reflects in how he gives back.”

Added Spignarolo: “Whether he’s talking about Dora the Explorer or Bob the Builder, he just looks around the room when he walks in, and can engage in a 20-minute conversation with people, whether we’re at the Kraft Family Blood Center, or in a classroom. ... He just has that gift to be able to talk to people and give back.”

Mesko, who won the Ron Burton Community Service Award, is also about to receive Boston Children’s Hospital’s “Champion Award.” It honors athletes from Boston’s professional sports teams for their work off the field, enriching the lives of children.

“Zoltan’s visits to Boston Children’s Hospital bring so much joy to our patients and their families,” said Beth Donegan, the hospital’s Director of Child Life Services. “Zoltan is a pleasure to be around, his sunny personality lights up a room. The smiles the children have after he stops by exemplify just how special his visits are.”

Mesko has started his own foundation to fund organizations that foster the well-being of children. He recently had a successful karaoke event, called “ZoliOke,” which raised a ton of money for various charities.

Does he ever say no or turn down anyone asking for help?

“It’s tough to say no. But at the same time, right now, I don’t have a family to be with on my off-day or down time, so it’s a little easier to say yes,” Mesko said. “But at the same time, even if I had a family, they would understand. I’m not out in the bars spending my time. I’m making good use of my time. Ultimately, it makes me feel better along with the kids. So it’s kind of a mutual benefit.”

Judging by all the smiles produced Tuesday night, the man with the Angry Bird head couldn’t have said it better.